Tunisia’s Lawyers' Bar on Tuesday condemned what it called “the most dangerous attack” the legal profession has faced after police raids on its offices led to the arrest of two of its members.
Masked officers in plainclothes raided the legal association’s premises without a warrant on Monday evening and arrested lawyer Mehdi Zagrouba. He was held on charges of assaulting a police officer.
According to a Facebook statement by the Ministry of Interior, a video was published online that purports to show the lawyer assaulting two plainclothes police officers.
It is the second time Tunisian police have forcibly entered the Lawyers’ Bar offices. In a similar raid on Saturday, prominent lawyer and commentator Sonia Dahmani was also arrested.
Hatem Mziou, president of the Tunisian Lawyers’ Bar, on Tuesday described the latest raid as "the most dangerous and systematic attack we have ever been subjected to”.
“The assault is a dangerous message and an attempt to tame our mouths but we will not stand down in the defence of rights and freedoms in this country.”
Mr Mziou said police had used excessive force, assaulted lawyers who were present, smashed some of their furniture and equipment, and carried weapons.
The veteran Tunisian lawyer said the raid on the Lawyers’ Bar offices was illegal. He highlighted a special decree regulating the legal profession, which states that police can enter its premises only after receiving permission from the association's president.
The Tunisian Lawyers’ Association warned the ongoing targeting of lawyers and disrespect of rights and freedom in general does not serve the aim of fostering a state in which the law is respected.
“The implementation of law does not come through orders but it is through independent judiciary, fair trials and issuing sentences in total independence and in respect of the presumption of innocence principle,” Mr Mziou said.
He added that several lawyers have been subjected to violence and received murder threats while doing their job.
“We will not stand down … we do not have fearful lawyers and no one can intimidate us,” he said.
The bar has called on all of its affiliates to rally on Thursday in a national protest over the issue.
Mr Mziou subsequently called for an intervention by Tunisian President Kais Saied to stop the assaults on the legal sector.
The raid on the Tunisian Lawyers’ Bar headquarters is seen as part of a crackdown featuring arrests of prominent activists, lawyers, journalists and critical voices.
Two Tunisian journalists, Mourad Zghidi and Borhen Bsaies, were arrested on charges of making critical statements against the government, both online and on a private radio show.
Tunisian prosecutors said their words had featured misleading information and breached national security.
Two outspoken anti-racism activists, Ghofran Binous and Fatma Ezzahra Ltifi, were summoned for questioning on Tuesday morning over undisclosed allegations.
Mr Saied took over all branches of state power in July 2021.
Tunisian civil society organisations, including 2015 Nobel Peace Prize laureates the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet, the country's General Labour Union and the Human Rights League have announced unconditional support for the lawyers.
In Tuesday’s press conference the Tunisian Lawyers’ Bar announced a special general session involving all members to agree on measures they will take in response to the crackdown.
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
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Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
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Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
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Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
The biog
Title: General Practitioner with a speciality in cardiology
Previous jobs: Worked in well-known hospitals Jaslok and Breach Candy in Mumbai, India
Education: Medical degree from the Government Medical College in Nagpur
How it all began: opened his first clinic in Ajman in 1993
Family: a 90-year-old mother, wife and two daughters
Remembers a time when medicines from India were purchased per kilo
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Winner: Baccarat, William Buick (jockey), Charlie Appleby (trainer)
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RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES
September 30
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October 7
South Africa v New Zealand
Argentina v Australia
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EQureos%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EUAE%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELaunch%20year%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2021%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E33%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESoftware%20and%20technology%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%243%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
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Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
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Producer: Lyca Productions; presented by Dharma Films
Cast: Rajnikanth, Akshay Kumar, Amy Jackson, Sudhanshu Pandey
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
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Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
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Price: From Dh149,900
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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Directed by: Todd Phillips
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix
Rating: Five out of five stars
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
